New president named for NGMC

GAINESVILLE - A new president has been named for Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

NGHS CEO Carol Burrell announced Friday that Bradley Nurkin will start the job on Aug. 20.

Burrell announced earlier this year that the health system's chief operating officer position would be restructured into this president's position to more accurately reflect the scope of leadership the job entails.

According to Burrell, Nurkin has an extensive healthcare administration background, most recently serving as President and CEO of Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee. Prior to that, Nurkin served as Chief Executive Officer of Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda, Fla., which was named the #1 heart surgery hospital in Florida for 2008 and was a five-time recipient of HealthGrades' Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award.

She said his previous experience also includes CEO of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lancaster, Pa.; CEO of East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro; and Interim CEO and COO of Crossgates River Oaks Hospital in Brandon, Miss.

"As you can see, Brad is a veteran CEO of successful tertiary hospitals, all of which have been part of broader system organizations, which will be an important point of reference for this new position as we develop into a two-hospital health system with the opening of NGMC Braselton in Spring 2015," Burrell said in an email Friday. "Brad also has a keen focus on quality improvement and a proven track record of sound financial management and delivery of award-winning patient care services."